Gran Turismo 7 is a great car culture sim. There's also racing.
In the first 10 hours or so of Gran Turismo 7, the location I feel I've spent the most time in is not a track, nor a garage, but rather an in-game coffee shop. And while the in-game music ranges from jazz to metal, the tunes I most closely associate with the game are the tinkling piano keys that play over cutscenes of babbling brooks and pastoral European vistas.
In many ways, when I play Gran Turismo 7 it feels like I'm approaching the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club, half expecting to hear the voice of CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz welcoming me to this year's Masters. "Hello, friends." Settle in and get comfortable.
That's not the sort of feeling I associate with a racing game, where the need for speed and thirst for victory typically pump players with adrenaline like petrol. By comparison to titles like Formula 1 or even the more arcade-like Forza, Gran Turismo 7 feels like a Sunday drive - windows down, radio on, weaving through winding-but-manageable back roads about 20kmh over the posted limit, enough to earn a speeding ticket but not to put yourself in danger. It's a little edgy, but your palms remain dry and your blood pressure remains low.
Given the plethora of customisation options and a catalogue of 400-plus cars, including high-end makes and models that can reach speeds of more than 300kmh. I'm sure the heart-in-your-throat thrills lay around a bend ahead. But the game's early experience has been very much a breezy drive in fifth-gear. It's a slow build, which is wonderful for entry-level racing game players like myself, but could frustrate a more seasoned racer who wants to dive right in and indulge their inner Ricky Bobby.
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